ADPC held its consultation workshop for the “Strengthening Partnerships for Community Resilience in Indonesia and Timor-Leste (SPRINT)” project in Ainaro Municipality, Timor-Leste on 06 September 2023. Co-hosted by the Office of the Municipal Administrator of Ainaro, the workshop marked a significant step towards the development of disaster-ready communities in high-risk areas of Timor-Leste.

The SPRINT project is a testament to ADPC’s commitment to disaster risk reduction and climate resilience. Targeting communities facing low-attention disasters in low-attention geographies such as Ainaro Municipality Timor-Leste, the project focuses on areas that frequently face the brunt of disasters but often lack adequate support. The initiative is designed to leverage existing opportunities, address prevalent issues, and bolster locally led actions through community-based disaster risk management (DRM) approaches. By enhancing the capacity of local organizations, ADPC aims to reduce the dependency on external agencies and ensure a swift recovery after disasters. A notable aspect of the project is its emphasis on inclusivity, with women and marginalized groups central to the decision-making process.

The multi-stakeholder consultation workshop aimed to (1) introduce the SPRINT project, outlining its scope, objectives, and intended impact; (2) foster a common understanding of the project’s significance by bringing together stakeholders from various organizations, agencies, and communities; (3) strengthen the relationships among stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of collaboration for the project’s success; and (4) chart out immediate next steps and action items to jumpstart project activities.

The workshop served as a platform for open dialogue, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose among the more than 50 participants from government agencies, development partners, local civil society organizations (CSOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), and community groups. With the collective expertise of various stakeholders, the SPRINT project is poised to significantly impact the targeted areas, ensuring that local communities are better prepared and more resilient in the face of disasters.

For more information about the SPRINT project, please email at sprint@adpc.net.